Introduction: What is a Meniscus Tear?

A meniscus tear is the most common knee injury and is caused by a sudden twisting or bending of the knee joint. A meniscus is a type of cartilage that provides cushioning and acts as a natural shock absorber It helps to distribute the load across the knee joint and also provides stability to the knee joint. When it tears, it can cause pain and instability in the knee joint.

The meniscus can be injured in one of two ways: when the knee is twisted outwards, or when it bends inwards. A meniscus tear usually occurs when there has been an excessive force on either side of the knee joint which results in pain, swelling, and difficulty walking.

The Causes of a Meniscus Tear and How to Prevent Them

A meniscus tear is a common injury among athletes. It can happen to people who participate in sports that involve sudden stops and starts, such as running, jumping, or skiing.

There are many ways to prevent a meniscus injury from happening. One way is to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint by using exercises like squats and lunges. Another way is by wearing proper footwear for sports and exercising on soft surfaces like grass or a track.

What are the Symptoms of a Meniscus Tear in the Knees?

Meniscus tear is a common injury that can happen as a result of an injury to the knee. It can also occur due to an underlying condition like arthritis.

The symptoms of a meniscus tear in the knee include:

• Pain or discomfort in the knee, especially when walking or going up or down stairs
• Sudden swelling and tenderness around the joint
• Feeling like you are “giving way” when you try to walk, run, kneel or squat
• A catching sensation during movements of the knee

If you have any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor to diagnose and treat your condition.

How is a Torn Meniscus Diagnosed and Treated?

MRI scans can be used to diagnose a meniscus injury. A meniscus injury is when the cartilage between the knee bones becomes damaged, torn, or worn down. The MRI scan will show where the tear is and how bad it is.

The MRI scan will also show if there are any other injuries that are not related to the meniscus. It can also show if there are any other problems with the knee like arthritis, cysts, or tumors.

The MRI scan will take about 30 minutes and requires someone to lie still on a table while it takes pictures of the knee area with a magnetic field and radio waves.

Also, there are several physical tests performed by physiotherapists to diagnose meniscus injuries.

Physiotherapy Management of Meniscus Injury

In this section, we will discuss physiotherapy management of meniscus injuries.

• Physiotherapy treatment starts with the evaluation of your condition and making a treatment plan which is focused on reducing stress on the knee joint, managing swelling, improving mobility, regaining strength around the knee and the hip, and improving stability in the lower body.
• There are some high-end modalities used to treat meniscus injury as early as possible such as:
• Extracorporeal shock wave (ECSW),
• High-intensity class 4 laser,
• super inductive system (SIS),
• Cryo-compression,
• Cryo-air,
• Targeted Radiofrequency (TR therapy),
• Combo machine, &
• wireless professional, etc.
• Physiotherapists use Cryo-air machines for cryotherapy, this will cause vasoconstriction and cause swelling reduction, and pain relief.
• There are some early rehab exercises that help you with your labral tear such as:
• Knee Flexion Slides with Towel Wedge.
• Knee Extension Stretch with Strap and Towel Roll.
• Long sitting quad set with Towel Roll.
• Side-lying Hip Abduction.
• TRX Squat with Lean Back.
• Single-Leg Y Balance with Cones.
• Bench Bridge 2 Legs – 90-degree bent.
• Lateral walks with the band around the forefoot.
• Kinesio taping.
• Joint mobilization for superior tibiofibular joint, Patello-femoral joint, and tibiofemoral joint.
• Balance and proprioception exercises.
• Once the patient is relieved from pain and achieves muscle strength the sports physiotherapist will start Agility training.

What is the Best Way to Rehabilitate an Injured Knee after Surgery?

Rehabilitation protocols are the most common way to manage an injured knee after surgery. Physiotherapy management is often a part of rehabilitation protocol.

Physiotherapy management includes exercises, ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and other treatments.

The goal of physiotherapy management is to avoid any loss of range in motion or muscle strength and atrophy.

The patient should perform these exercises with a physical therapist until they are able to do them on their own.

What are Some Things I Should Be Doing To Recover From a Torn Meniscus as Quickly as Possible?

A meniscus tear is a common injury for people of all ages, but it can be particularly debilitating for athletes. Meniscus tears can have a variety of causes, including trauma, overuse, or degeneration.

There are many things you can do to help with the recovery process from a torn meniscus and they range from simple lifestyle changes to more invasive surgical procedures.

1) Start by resting your knee as much as possible and avoid any strenuous activity that may put pressure on the knee joint.

2) Apply ice and compression for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours.

3) Keep doing isometric exercises for the hip and ankle joint muscles.

Conclusion: What You Need To Know When Recovering From a Meniscal Tear

It is important to note that the recovery time for a meniscal tear can vary from person to person. The amount of time it takes for you to recover will depend on the severity of your injury and how quickly you progress through your rehab program.

The most important thing to remember when recovering from a meniscal tear is that you should never try to rush back into sports or activities. You should always allow yourself ample time in order to recover fully before returning to any physical activity.

Meniscectomy Surgery As A Treatment For A Torn Meniscus

A meniscectomy is a surgery to remove the torn meniscus in the knee.

The surgeon will make an incision over the tear and remove the torn piece of cartilage.

The patient will be required to stay in bed for a few weeks and walk as much as possible, but complete recovery can take up to a year.

Chemical Menisectomy As A Treatment For A Torn Meniscus And Other Related Conditions

Chemical meniscectomy is a surgical procedure to treat a torn meniscus and other related conditions. The procedure is done by injecting an irritant chemical into the joint. This irritant causes the tissues inside the joint to shrink and creates more space for the damaged cartilage.

Chemical meniscectomy is done under general anesthesia, so there is no pain associated with it.

Frequently asked questions about meniscus injury:

What and where is the meniscus?

How meniscus gets injured?

Can the meniscus heal itself and can we walk with an injury?

How we can treat meniscus injury conservatively and what happens if we don’t treat it?

What is the first line of treatment and diagnosis, assessment for meniscus injury?

How do you test if your meniscus is torn?